The supreme executive power of the state is vested by the Constitution in the Governor. The Governor has the power to administer oaths, sign writs, issue processes, and to see that the laws of the state are faithfully executed. In case of emergency, the Governor may convene the General Assembly in special session. The Governor is commander-in-chief of the militia of the state and has jurisdiction in the matter of requisitions from other states for criminals. The Governor has power to veto any bills passed by the General Assembly, but the veto may be overridden by at least a two-thirds majority vote of each house upon reconsideration. Any bill that is neither signed nor vetoed within five days after being presented to the Governor (Sundays and legal holidays excepted) during the session of the General Assembly becomes a law, in like manner as if signed. After adjournment of the General Assembly, the Governor is allowed fifteen calendar days after bills have been presented in which to act. In each odd-numbered year, the Governor must also present a biennial budget for the state to the General Assembly and has control over the quarterly allotments granted after the budget has been acted on by the General Assembly. The Governor must from time to time give to the General Assembly information concerning the state and recommend such measures as deemed expedient. The Governor may adjourn the General Assembly in case of disagreement between the two houses, respecting the time of adjournment to such time as the Governor thinks proper, but not beyond the day of the next stated session.

The Governor nominates to the General Assembly the Judges of the Supreme, Appellate, and the Superior Courts and the Chief Court Administrator; and appoints the members of several boards and commissions, at times with the consent of either House of the General Assembly, and appoints, with the advice and consent of either House of the General Assembly, the Commissioner of the Department of Administrative Services, the Commissioner of the Department of Aging, the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, the Commissioner of the Department of Banking, the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, the Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Protection, the Commissioner of the Department of Correction, the Commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services, the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the Commissioner of the Department of Housing, the Commissioner of the Department of Insurance, the Commissioner of the Department of Labor, the Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, the Commissioner of the Department of Rehabilitative Services, the Commissioner of the Department of Revenue Services, the Commissioner of the Department of Social Services, the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation, the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Commissioner of the Office of Early Childhood Education, the Claims Commissioner, the Consumer Counsel, the Executive Administrator of the Office of Governmental Accountability, the Healthcare Advocate, the Executive Director of the Office of Military Affairs, the Executive Director of the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, the Executive Director of the State Contracting Standards Board, the Child Advocate, and the Victim Advocate. The Governor also appoints, with the consent of both houses, members of the State Board of Education, the New England Board of Higher Education, members of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and other boards and commissions. The Governor also appoints, with advice and consent of either House of the General Assembly, the Board of Trustees of the University of Connecticut. The Governor is an ex officio member of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, State Bond Commission, Finance Advisory Committee, Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, Board of Trustees of the University of Connecticut, and the Corporation of Yale University.

The Governor presided over the General Assembly before it was divided into two houses in 1698; from that date until the adoption of the Constitution of 1818, the Governor presided in the council or upper house, with a casting vote, but no veto power. At the present time, the Lieutenant Governor presides over the Senate.

The Governor holds office for four years and receives an annual salary of $150,000. The Governor's Residence is located at 990 Prospect Avenue, Hartford 06105.

Before the Constitution of 1818, Connecticut had a Deputy Governor who presided in council, or the upper house of the General Assembly, in the absence of the Governor. When the Governor was present, the Deputy Governor had a voice in council. Until 1818 the Deputy Governor could exercise the office of a justice of the peace throughout the State, and could sign writs until 1879.

Today, the Lieutenant Governor is President of the State Senate, presides over its deliberations, rules on procedures, and may cast a vote in the event of a tie. The Lieutenant Governor may only enter debate when the State Senate meets as Committee of the Whole. Under the Constitution, the Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor in case of the death, resignation, refusal to serve or removal from office of the Governor. If the Governor is impeached or absent from the state, the Lieutenant Governor "shall exercise the powers and authority and perform the duties appertaining to the office of Governor until, if the Governor has been impeached, he is acquitted, or if absent, he has returned."

The Constitution also provides that the Lieutenant Governor shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of Governor if the Governor informs the Lieutenant Governor in writing that he is unable to do so, "until the Governor transmits to the Lieutenant Governor a written declaration to the contrary."

The Constitution also establishes procedures, under a Council on Gubernatorial Incapacity, whereby the Lieutenant Governor may assume the powers and duties of the Governor in the absence of a written declaration of incapacity by the Governor until it is determined that the Governor is able to resume the powers and duties of his office.

The Lieutenant Governor is a member of the Finance Advisory Committee, the Commission on Intergovernmental Cooperation and the Corporation of Yale University.

The Lieutenant Governor shall have the same qualifications for office as the Governor, is elected for four-year terms and receives an annual salary of $110,000.

Lieutenant Governor

Town and Party**

Term of Service

Years of Service

Roger Ludlow

Windsor, O

1639, 42, 48

3 yrs.

John Haynes

Hartford, O

1640, 44, 46, 50, 52

5 yrs.

George Wyllys

Hartford, O

1641

1 yr.

Edward Hopkins

Hartford, O

1643, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53

6 yrs.

Thomas Welles

Hartford, O

1654, 56, 57, 59

4 yrs.

John Webster

Hartford, O

1655

1 yr.

John Winthrop

New London, O

1658-59

1 yr.

John Mason

Norwich, O

1660-69

9 yrs.

William Leete

Guilford, O

1669-76

7 yrs.

Robert Treat

Milford, O

1676-83

7 yrs.

James Bishop

New Haven, O

1683-92

9 yrs.

William Jones

New Haven, O

1692-98

6 yrs.

Robert Treat

Milford, O

1698-1708

10 yrs.

Nathan Gold

Fairfield, O

1708-24

16 yrs.

Joseph Talcott

Hartford, O

1724-25

1 yr.

Jonathan Law

Milford, O

1725-41

16 yrs. 5 m.

Roger Wolcott

Windsor, O

1741-50

9 yrs. 10 m.

Thomas Fitch

Norwalk, O

1750-54

3 yrs. 1 m.

William Pitkin

Hartford, O

1754-66

12 yrs.

Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.

Lebanon, O

1766-69

3 yrs. 5 m.

Matthew Griswold

Lyme, F

1769-84

15 yrs.

Samuel Huntington

Norwich, O

1784-86

2 yrs.

Oliver Wolcott

Litchfield, F

1786-96

9 yrs. 8 m.

Jonathan Trumbull, 2nd

Lebanon, F

1796-97

1 yr. 7 m.

John Treadwell1

Farmington, F

1797-1809

11 yrs. 5 m.

Roger Griswold2

Lyme, F

1809-11

1 yr. 7 m.

John Cotton Smith3

Sharon, F

1811-13

2 yrs.

Chauncey Goodrich4

Hartford, F

1813-15

2 yrs. 3 m.

Jonathan Ingersoll5

New Haven, R*

1816-23

6 yrs. 8 m.

David Plant

Stratford, O

1823-27

4 yrs.

John S. Peters

Hebron, NR

1827-31

4 yrs.

No election

1831-32

Thaddeus Betts

Norwalk, O

1832-33

1 yr.

Ebenezer Stoddard

Woodstock, O

1833-34

1 yr.

Thaddeus Betts

Norwalk, O

1834-35

1 yr.

Ebenezer Stoddard

Woodstock, O

1835-38

3 yrs.

Charles Hawley

Stamford, O

1838-42

4 yrs.

William S. Holabird

Winsted, O

1842-44

2 yrs.

Reuben Booth

Danbury, O

1844-46

2 yrs.

Noyes Billings

New London, O

1846-47

1 yr.

Charles J. McCurdy

Lyme, O

1847-49

2 yrs.

Thomas Backus

Killingly, O

1849-50

1 yr.

Charles H. Pond

Milford, D

1850-51

1 yr.

Green Kendrick

Waterbury, W

1851-52

1 yr.

Charles H. Pond

Milford, D

1852-54

2 yrs.

Alexander H. Holley

Salisbury, W

1854-55

1 yr.

William Field

Pomfret, FSA

1855-56

1 yr.

Albert Day

Hartford, AR

1856-57

1 yr.

Alfred A. Burnham

Windham, R

1857-58

1 yr.

Julius Catlin

Hartford, R

1858-61

3 yrs.

Benjamin Douglas

Middletown, R

1861-62

1 yr.

Roger Averill

Danbury, U

1862-66

4 yrs.

Oliver F. Winchester

New Haven, R

1866-67

1 yr.

Ephraim H. Hyde

Stafford, D

1867-69

2 yrs.

Francis Wayland

New Haven, R

1869-70

1 yr.

Julius Hotchkiss

Middletown, D

1870-71

1 yr.

Morris Tyler

New Haven, R

1871-73

2 yrs.

George G. Sill

Hartford, R

1873-77

4 yrs.

Francis B. Loomis

New London, D

1877-79

2 yrs.

David Gallup

Plainfield, R

1879-81

2 yrs.

William H. Bulkeley

Hartford, R

1881-83

2 yrs.

George G. Summer

Hartford, D

1883-85

2 yrs.

Lorrin A. Cooke

Winsted, R

1885-87

2 yrs.

James L. Howard

Hartford, R

1887-89

2 yrs.

Samuel E. Merwin

New Haven, R

1889-93

4 yrs.

Ernest Cady

Hartford, D

1893-95

2 yrs.

Lorrin A. Cooke

Winsted, R

1895-97

2 yrs.

James D. Dewell

New Haven, R

1897-99

2 yrs.

Lyman A. Mills

Middlefield, R

1899-1901

2 yrs.

Edwin O. Keeler

Norwalk, R

1901-03

2 yrs.

Henry Roberts

Hartford, R

1903-05

2 yrs.

Rollin S. Woodruff

New Haven, R

1905-07

2 yrs.

Everett J. Lake

Hartford, R

1907-09

2 yrs.

Frank B. Weeks6

Middletown, R

1909

3 m. 15 d.

Dennis A. Blakeslee

New Haven, R

1911-13

2 yrs.

Lyman T. Tingier

Vernon, D

1913-15

2 yrs.

Clifford B. Wilson

Bridgeport, R

1915-21

6 yrs.

Charles A. Templeton

Waterbury, R

1921-23

2 yrs.

Hiram Bingham

New Haven, R

1923-25

2 yrs.

John H. Trumbull

Plainville, R

1925

1 d.

J. Edwin Brainard7

Branford, R

1925-29

4 yrs.

Ernest E. Rogers

New London, R

1929-31

2 yrs.

Samuel R. Spencer

Suffield, R

1931-33

2 yrs.

Roy C. Wilcox

Meriden, R

1933-35

2 yrs.

T. Frank Hayes

Waterbury, D

1935-39

4 yrs.

James L. McConaughy

Middletown, R

1939-41

2 yrs.

Odell Shepard

Hartford, D

1941-43

2 yrs.

William L. Hadden

West Haven, R

1943-45

2 yrs.

Wilbert Snow8

Middletown, D

1945-46

1 yr. 11 m. 25 d.

James C. Shannon9

Bridgeport, R

1947-48

1 yr. 2 m.

Robert E. Parsons10

Farmington, R

1948-49

9 m. 29 d.

William T. Carroll

Torrington, D

1949-51

2 yrs.

Edward N. Allen

Hartford, R

1951-55

4 yrs.

Charles W. Jewett

Lyme, R

1955-59

4 yrs.

John N. Dempsey11

Putnam, D

1959-61

2 yrs. 16 d.

Anthony J. Armentano12

Hartford, D

1961-63

1 yr. 11 m. 15 d.

Samuel J. Tedesco13

Bridgeport, D

1963-66

3 yrs. 6 d.

Fred J. Doocy14

South Windsor, D

1966-67

11 m. 19 d.

Attilio R. Frassinelli

Stafford, D

1967-71

4 yrs.

T. Clark Hull15

Danbury, R

1971-73

2 yrs. 4 m. 25 d.

Peter L. Cashman16

Lyme, R

1973-75

1 yr. 7 m. 1 d.

Robert K. Killian

Hartford, D

1975-79

4 yrs.

William A. O'Neill17

East Hampton, D

1979-80

1 yr. 11 m. 28 d.

Joseph J. Fauliso18

Hartford, D

1980-91

10 yrs. 8 d.

Eunice S. Groark

Hartford, ACP

1991-95

4 yrs.

M. Jodi Rell19

Brookfield, R

1995-2004

9 yrs. 6 m.

Kevin B. Sullivan20

West Hartford, D

2004-2007

2 yrs. 6 m. 2 d.

Michael Fedele

Stamford, R

2007-2011

4 yrs.

Nancy Wyman

Tolland, D

2011-

**Town listed is town of residence at time of election.

1Was appointed Governor by the General Assembly in October, 1809, Governor Trumbull having died August 7, 1809.

2Was appointed by the General Assembly in October, 1809, in place of Lieutenant Governor Treadwell.

3Was Acting-Governor from time of Governor Griswold's death, October 25, 1812, until May, 1813.

4Died August 18, 1815, while in office.

5Died January 12, 1823.

6Governor Weeks was elected Lieutenant Governor and became Governor on the death of Governor Lilley, taking the oath of office, April 22, 1909.

7Lieutenant Governor Brainard was chosen President Pro Tem of the Senate and succeeded to the office of Lieutenant Governor, to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of Governor Trumbull, January 8, 1925.

8Became Governor December 27, 1946, when Governor Baldwin resigned to become U.S. Senator.

9Became Governor upon the death of Governor McConaughy. Took oath of office March 8, 1948.

10Became Lieutenant Governor when Lieutenant Governor Shannon became Governor. Term began March 8, 1948.

11Became Governor January 21, 1961 in succession to Abraham Ribicoff who resigned to become Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare.

12Was chosen president pro tempore of the Senate and succeeded to the office of Lieutenant Governor when John Dempsey became Governor, January 21, 1961.

13Resigned January 15, 1966 to become Judge of the Superior Court on August 13, 1966.

14Succeeded to the office of Lieutenant Governor by virtue of being President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Took oath of office on January 17, 1966.

15Resigned June 1, 1973 to become Judge of the Superior Court.

16Succeeded to the office of Lieutenant Governor by virtue of being President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Took oath of office on June 7, 1973.

17Became Governor December 31, 1980 in succession to Ella T. Grasso who resigned because of ill health.

18Succeeded to the office of Lieutenant Governor by virtue of being President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Took oath of office on December 31, 1980.

19Became Governor July 1, 2004 at 12:00 Noon, in succession to John G. Rowland who resigned.20Succeeded to the office of Lieutenant Governor by virtue of being President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Took oath of office on July 1, 2004.